Train-control apparatus



W. H. JOHNSON,

TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, I919.

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W. H. JOHNSON.

TRAIN CUNTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION man APR. 12. 1919.

. Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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WILLIAM: HARRY JOHNSON, OF PAIDUCAH, KENTUCKY.

TRAIN-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed April 12,

7'0 (HZ 1071 0712 it may concern:

lie it know-11 that I, lVILLiaai Htinnr JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paducah. in the county of Mc- Cracken and State 01 Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Control Apparatus, of which the tol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to train control apparatus and the principal object of the invention is to provide means actuated by an obstruction placed along the track, for applying the brakes and'shutting off the steam supply to the cylinders.

Another object of the-invention is to provide means for actuating the throttle lever automatically without interfering with its manual operation by the engineer.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View of the throttle operating means;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the means for operating the cut-out valve for the main reservoir.

In these views 1 indicates the brake valve for controlling the air which actuates the brake mechanism, 2 is the throttle lever and 3 is the main air reservoir.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide a cylinder 4 which is provided with a piston 5 which is normally held at oneend of the cylinder by the spring 6. The piston rod 7 is connected with the valve 1 by the links 8. 9 indicates a second cylinder provided with a piston 10 which is held at one end of said cylinder by the spring 11. The piston rod 12 passes through an opening 13 in a member 14 which is slidabl supported on the throttle lever 2. Both the piston rods 7 and 12 are provided with the adjusting nuts 15 and 16 whereby the said rods may be made to engage the valve or throttle lever at any desired point.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented tier. 1

Serial No. 289,546.

The member 1st is provided with a slot 17 which receives the end of an L-shaped lever in which has its small arm pivoted to the throttle lever as at 19. This lever 18 is connected with the latch member 2o 0 the throttle lever by the link 21 so that when the member 1% is moved bv the piston rod the said lever 18 will be swung toward the throttle lever so that the latch will be moved into its inoperative position and thus pcrn'iit the throttle lever to be moved upon the continued movement of the member 14. T he latch member 20 is connected to the fingcr-engaging lever 22 of the throttle lever by the link 23 and this link is slidably connected with said lever 22 as at 24 so as to permit the movement of the latch member 20 by the lever 18.

The cylinders at and 9 are connected by the pipes 25 with the main reservoir 3 and a three way valve 26 is located in said pipe to control the passage of the air from said mam reservoir to the cylinders. This valve is provided with a spring-controlled arm 27, said spring tending to hold the valve in open position so as to permit the air to pass Into the cylinders to force the pistons toward the ofl set ends thereof to move the throttle lever to shut off the steam and to apply the brakes by actuating the valve 1.

his valve is normally held in closed position by means of its arm 27 being engaged by a trip lever 29 depending from a part of the train. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 30, and a spring 31 holds the upper end of the lever against the arm to hold the valve in closed position. The lower end of said trip lever projects to a point adjacent the rails and is adapted to strike an obstruction 32 placed along the track and which is connected with the usual semiphore operating means so that when the semiphore is set at the danger point said block will be moved into position to be struck by said trip lever. WVhen this takes place the lever will be tilted to release the arm 27 so that the spring of said arm will open the valve to permit the air to pass from the main reservoir into the cylinders and thus stop the train.

It will be seen that the engineer can operate the throttle lever without interfering with the automatic means and that said automatic means will operate the lever without interference with the engineers operation thereof.

The adjusting nut on the piston rod 7 may be adjusted to secure a service application of the brakes or an emergency application thereof.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to he understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

WVhat I claim is An apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of cylinders, pistons therein a piston rod connected with each piston, one of said rods having a screw threaded part, a perforated part on the brake valve for receiving said screw threaded part, a nut on said rod for causing the piston rod to actuate the brake valve when the piston is moved inwardly, a sliding member connected with the throttle lever and having an opening therein through which the other piston rod passes, this rod also having a screw threaded portion, a nut engaging said screw threaded portion and operating the sliding member when the second piston is moved inwardly, said sliding member having a slot therein, a lever pivoted to the throttle lever and having its end projecting into said slot, a link connecting said lever with the latch member of the throttle lever, a compressed air tank, a pipe-line connecting the same with the two cylinders, a valve in said pipe-line, a spring controlled arm connected with said valve, a trip lever pivoted intermediate its end, a spring for holding said lever in engagement with the arm and a track obstruction adapted to engage said trip lever to release said arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM HARRY JOHNSON. 

